Phil Hartman — PICS

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September 20, 2019 12:14AM EDT

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Late comedian Phil Hartman smiling

Late comedian Phil Hartman smiling — A photo of late comedian Phil Hartman. He was a beloved comedian who was murdered in his sleep by his wife in 1998. Phil was born in Ontario, Canada but his family moved to the U.S. when he was ten and eventually grew up in the Los Angeles area. Phil took classes with the legendary comedy improv troupe The Groundlings in the mid ’70s and by 1978 was made a fully player. He and pal Paul Reubens helped create the character of Pee Wee Herman, the hilarious man-child that Paul would play on stage and later in an HBO special. The two then created the childrens show ‘Pee Wee’s Playhouse’ where Phil starred as Captain Carl. He successfully auditioned for ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1986. Phil became a fan favorite for his flawless Bill Clinton impression, but his impersonations of Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Barbara Bush and others were also iconic. Phil remailed on ‘SNL’ through 1994. Phil left to star on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, which would garner him Best Supporting Actor Emmy nominations. He also voiced characters on ‘The Simpsons.’ He was murdered in his sleep in May of 1998 by his wife Brynn, who shot him to death after he threatened to leave her if she didn’t stop using cocaine. She then killed herself several hours later.

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Phil Hartman and wife Brynn at the ‘Apollo 13’ film premiere

Phil Hartman and wife Brynn at the ‘Apollo 13’ film premiere — Phil and Brynn Hartman at the ‘Apollo 13’ film premiere in Los Angeles on June 20, 1995. Three years later she would shoot him to death in his sleep before taking her own life.

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Phil Hartman and daughter Birgen at the ‘Sgt Bilko’ Premiere

Phil Hartman and daughter Birgen at the ‘Sgt Bilko’ Premiere — Phil Hartman and daughter Birgen Hartman at the ‘Sgt Bilko’ premiere on March 27, 1996 in Los Angeles, CA. Birgen was left orphaned when Phil’s wife Brynn shot him to death in his sleep in May of 1998 then took her own life.

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Phil Hartman playing Bill Clinton on ‘Saturday Night Live’

Phil Hartman playing Bill Clinton on ‘Saturday Night Live’ — Phil Hartman doing his Bill Clinton impersonation on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ It was one of many famous people he was adept at impersonating on the show including Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra and Babara Bush

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Phil Hartman in ‘Jingle All The Way’

Phil Hartman in ‘Jingle All The Way’ — Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Hartman starring in the Christmas comedy ‘Jingle All The Way.’ The film came out in 1996, two years after Phil left ‘Saturday Night Live.’

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Phil Hartman starring in ‘Sgt. Bilko’ in 1996

Phil Hartman starring in ‘Sgt. Bilko’ in 1996 — Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman starring in ‘Sgt. Bilko’ in 1996. Phil was one of Hollywood’s brightest comedians when he was murdered by his wife in 1998.

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Phil Hartman & Brynn Hartman at the ‘Christmas in Connecticut’ Premiere

Phil Hartman & Brynn Hartman at the ‘Christmas in Connecticut’ Premiere — Jon Lovitz, Nancy Davis, Phil Hartman & Brynn Hartman at the ‘Christmas in Connecticut’ premiere. Brynn would later murder Phil in his sleep in May of 1996 then take her own life.

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Phil Hartman next to wife Brynn

Phil Hartman next to wife Brynn — Comedic actor Phil Hartman is show with his wife, Brynn, in this Oct. 1992 photo. The former ”Saturday Night Live” cast member was murdered by Brynn in his sleep in his Encino home in May of 1998. She then took her own life.

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Phil Hartman at the ‘Coneheads’ premiere

Phil Hartman at the ‘Coneheads’ premiere — Phil Hartman gives the peace sign while wearing a tropical shirt at the ‘Coneheads’ premiere on July 19, 1993 in Los Angeles, CA. The characters stemmed from an ‘SNL’ sketch in the 70’s.

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Phil Hartman in the 1994 film ‘Houseguest’

Phil Hartman in the 1994 film ‘Houseguest’ — Phil Hartman, Sinbad, Kim Murphy, Chauncey Leopardi, Talia Seidar in the 1994 film ‘Houseguest. Four years later in May of 1998 Phil was murdered in his sleep by his wife Brynn.

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